Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

That battle was indeed quite depressing to watch. I had bought lot of archers with no other purpose than shoot at large enemy monster and afaik Yavanas are size 3, no? But as Shigure said my archers were more interested in wasting arrows to heavy infantry with shields, while the Yavanas proceeded to slaughter my army. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif
Is there some kind of size limit, like size 5, before "attack/fire large monsters" command starts to work?

@Darkwind: Aye, I'm starting to think the rush wasn't such a good idea because it has cost me lot of troops and expansion time but Kailasa really did look like a good target when I first found him.
I have learned something important from this rush attempt, my first one obviously, though. Elephant/mammoth rush tactic really needs to be planned before the game even starts and awake pretender is mandatory for getting the enemy capital locked down fast.

Kailasa may try counterattack me to death if he wants but I promise to make it equally painful experience for him as he did my rush to me. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

But you're still losing, so I think it would be a better idea to give Shigure a few provinces(maybe cede the ones he's already taken, if he currently owns any you have) in return for peace. That way, you can eventually have revenge instead of being destroyed and Kailasa gets a few provinces and a nice army for steamrolling indys. Of course, considering your earlier loss Kailasa could probably just eat you whole, if you never find a working strategy.

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

Helheim with 10 points of research... strange considering how well their commanders can self-buff. Those are some pretty great thugs right off the starting line, but they ought to have taken SOME magic given the efficacy of cheap buffs early on.

Looks like Kailasa probably has the forces to take down Caelum's capital after that last rout they presided over. What happened to the mammoths? Won't anyone think of the mammoths? They'll pretty much HAVE to take the capital now to stay competitive after a nasty short war of attrition there.

R'lyeh seems to be getting a startling amount of gold income out of its sea provinces. They must have a much higher population than the eastern seas under Atlantis. Will Atlantis be able to take the middle sea to compensate?

Thank goodness T'ien C'hi's gem income has levelled off in the last few turns. I was getting a bit nervous there that we'd be drowning in Celestial Gardeners by turn 20.

Ulm has been expanding at a fearsome rate for Ulm. Their war against Fomoria must be going exceedingly well. EA Ulmishmen are basically made to take out giants. If nothing happens to drastically change the face of that clash, Ulm will soon be recruiting giant-killers out of two different capitals.

Looks like Lanka continues to struggle... unless he's just blood-hunting the crap out of his provinces and summoning a ton of stuff for a dam-bursting strategy.

I think I reduced my population a bit too much with excessive patrolling and taxes... but at least I've fortified my borders, and reduced my profile as a target. I'm feeling kinda scorched-earthy now. It's a lot like you just went out and spent all your money on something and don't have buyer's remorse. Or a long day working and you feel dirty and tired but good about yourself.

Anything else going on out there that the world should know about? Everyone having fun?! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ascendant - Game On!
 

R'lyeh formally declares a state of hostility between the unholy children of lizards and men and the Great Aboleth race, upon urging from R'lyeh's ally Marverni.

(Am I allowed to use bastard on this forum and in the game? I'd love to, but I'm afraid of getting a warn, or temporary ban, or whatever it is that happens when someone breaks the rules here http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif )

Re: Ascendant - Game On!
 

Well, it looks like abominations of Fomoria weren't so tough after all... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif Though they may still have something up their sleeves (for they wear sleeves for that express purpose! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ).
BTW, we are quite open to peace-talks with any true humans... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
To Shigure!
Bravo! But if you need to say him which Bless you actually have, it probably won't make much difference... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
To Frumious:
BTW, Yavana have some quite savage archers of their own... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Ascendant - Game On!
 

Ossa you know you can be taking two turns at once when you're the last one to finish a turn!

Re: Ascendant - Game On!
 

Sorry - dont have internet access at home at the moment and have to go to university for doing my turns;)
About my research - hey, I just dont know how to use this self buffs, so I sent everyone around to search for gallows and hanging people.

Re: Ascendant - Game On!
 

It's all good! Good luck with your site searching then. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

It appears Sauromatia already has an astral income. Thanks for showing me our armies, Reno. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

R'yleh? The ssstar children do not ssscare me. You will rue the day your crystal landed on thisss world!

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

What star children do you speak of? Remember, at this point R'lyeh proper is still falling from the sky. Aboleths rule the seas, and a giant shard of flaming gas hasn't squashed them yet.

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

...why you gotta ruin my fun like that? I meant it in a metaphorical sense anyhow ;P

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

Aboleths aren't star children, even metaphorically. They're not into rad new crazes like mind-altering drugs or bowing down to the might of Yoth'Shothogg (They've been doing that for millenia). They haven't introduced any new concepts to the world(since they're, you know, about as old as the world), or, well, anything that "star children" might do. Other than conquering the planet and enslaving the lesser races, of course.

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

Christians say the Earth is 5000 years old, scientists say 3.5-4.5 billion years. Let's split the difference and call it 1.75 billion years old.

Yoth'Shothogg is only a spry 3850!

Then again, the land of Ascendant could be anywhere from 5000 (and everyone older than that migrated here) to an infinite amount of years old.

Ok I'm stopping now. Please let's not continue this topic as it's probably too geeky even for Dominions forums.

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

I never said my pretender was as old as Ascendant, nor any of the individual Aboleths. Only the Aboleth race as a whole.

By the way, Reno, why is your pretender right next to one of my provinces? I still don't get it.

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

Vooosh!

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

To Renojustin :
What do you say? Actual age of land of Ascendant is very fine topic! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif Unfortunately, Acashic Records do not provide a paleonthological data for us to analyse. So it would be very inconclusive discussion... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Ascendant - EA for new guys
 

Ahhh but Acashic Records reveal everything. They start by measuring the half-life of certain rare compounds such as Rubinium and Succubinium. Then they go on to buy a round of drinks for everyone at the bar, and as we all know, bar gossip is one of the main ways of finding specific information that you need to know in a fantasy world.

We'll need a strong Astral mage to cast it; where's Yoth'Shothogg? ...but then it would probably lie about it to suit its own unknowable, nefarious purposes! And then there's Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.

Perhaps we'll never know for sure just how old the ancient and sacred land of Ascendant is. The only thing we can be certain of is that it is the birthplace of a GOD!!

Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

If you count the entire series, so far it's been the birthplace of two gods (perhaps three), and will soon witness the birth of another.

And Yoth'Shothogg is too busy making sure that the Aboleths have access to land to cast any spells for this so-called "common good". Who wants common good anyways? I want excellent good, good that only I have access to. I'm not letting the other pretenders use my toys! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Well, depending on point of view, it was birthplace of about 15 gods... Check it - must add one for previous Pantokrator. It's just that most of them currently are sleeping over results of the last party with the person mentioned above... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

The C'tis have bathed too long in the warm sun! Therefore Staling a turn! Damn 3 misfortune...never again...

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Well that'll teach me for searching for magic sites with my pretender. Damn helheim and their glamour to the grave.

So how much work is it to revive a dead pretender?

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Long has the Lord Stravinsky achieved enlightenment, and just as long have there been those, hairless and ape, who doubt him. How can this be -- has he not escaped the cycle of samsara, has he not in so doing embodied samsara itself?

Perhaps there was the greatest doubt when I, his disciple Amitrajit, declared that there would be peace with the people of the sky. "In our moment of triumph?" cried the ape people in anger. So cried the most holy of the White Ones, so cried the slightest of the Atavi. The markata cried nothing but instead flung feces. Though the apes are the most enlightened of peoples, even they could not see the truths that Lord Stravinsky knew. Even I could not see them, even as I knew they were there.

But there they were. Following the peace, after a single season has not the land of the apes doubled in size? Are not the sky people, who were before trapped in the cycle of violence and suffering, now shaken from their complacency, now ready to seek the path to enlightenment? After our show of leniency, has not Devasura, a long-fallen Devata, returned to us seeking redemption?

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Battles rage in the south.

An innocent godling falls. Helheim's deathly black horses make no sound, nor the Hanged Kings yell shouts of triumph, but are quiet as the grave.

Brave warriors with shining swords scream their defiance, some clad in the first masterworks of chainmail, some wearing only shirts of their own manly, manly chest hair. Death spares neither.

In the north, empires rise.

A mysterious race of giants calls out for mercy, for help. Their children starve, wanting, wanting. So close to a land of magic and plenty, they sailed the seas and left their lands, for what? To be overwhelmed and slain by howling savages bearing fire and steel. They are truly cursed. Crom smiles.

The apes cry for vengeance for their lost dead, but their bright lord stays his hand. For how long, and at what price?

In the east, a mighty ocean power comes into its own, opposed by none.

The aboleths seethe from their oceans in the west and covet the lands of the lizard people with their rich soil and bright gold. The lizards lounge in the searing rays of their unnatural bright sun, suspecting much but too happy and fat to bestir themselves.

A bloody, ominous moon rises over the summer skies in the land of Ascendant.

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Truly Epic

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

I love your post. Keep it on:)

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

I agree, quite an epic post.

Hmm, I wonder if I should warn C'tis? Naahh, they'll survive. Or won't, perhaps. Depends upon my mood. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Crom smiles. And, being of lenient mood lately, offers a peace treaty to a certain neighbor...
And "savages" we'll show you in time! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/mad.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif
Also, sharp-eyed scouts of Ulm people have lately seen a sign which they failed to interpret for now: it seems that children of the waves are now trying to establish themselves as a major power on dry land, too... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Say, Reno, are you by any chance attacking Tir na n'Og? Because I'm going to look like an idiot if you haven't. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/redface.gif

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Why would you look like an idiot? lol

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

People are crazy around here, already killing each other like this !

Why can't we just have peace ! Claire likes peace.

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

I thought Claire was taking a nice dirt nap currently. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

And probably doesn't want noise around her ears at the time. It's really quite simple! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Then I shall order Yoth'Shothogg to order the Aboleths to make all the noise they can, in order to put Claire off-balance. Let loose the dogs of war! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Well, it's certainly said about being "mute as fishes"... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif
Though you may try.

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Don't worry, these fishes will be making a very large noise. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

And Reno, I'd look like an idiot because I sent TNnO a few gems to help with the war effort, because let's face it, you're big enough as is. I also expressed a desire not to join TNnO, as that would quite probably mean imminent destruction.

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

I am not attacking Tir na n'Og. I quite like the nation.

Frannabelle and Sauromatia on the other hand, have no other choice, and are a different matter entirely. The faerie people are too weird and wild. They steal babes from cradles, cavort and prance around rings of mushrooms and on moonlit hilltops at night, and in general make quite a nuisance of themselves. Fir Bolgs are very hairy and brutish and besides are better farmers than the Sauromatians. A fact which even the Sauromatian farmers can agree they don't really appreciate much.

The thing about Sauromatia is that they are quite good at initial expansion... and quite limited by mid- and endgame. I think that they're well balanced, except in MP where they may be weak. Because they have a high rate of expansion at first, others may percieve them to be dangerous, which neatly curtials their later expansion as other nations look at Sauromatia nervously or with envy.

Don't fear, their borders will soon be well-defined and sealed to the outside world. And Sauromatia certainly doesn't fear, with its rock-solid wall of immense province defense (you may have noticed their gold income), and awesome fast-response teams of cavalry, hydras, and composite bows.

It's one thing to be helping Tir out with advice, and I would do the same for anyone on the map if asked directly. This game really benefits from people sharing knowledge and hashing out scenarios between themselves...as long as you don't go so far as to help out her enemies materially. That might make her angry. You wouldn't want to see her angry. I hope for the sake of your mealy-mouthed crustaceans of the deep that by gems you meant strategies and tactics and not the things used to create magic. At best, that would be a foolish waste, at worst, an invitation to genocide.

Besides, the merciful and just Frannabelle herself went so far as to give Tir na n'Og three months to prepare for her coming. And they have pretty great mages, thugs, magic paths, and units. Let's see how they fare!

Re: Continuing about the age of Ascendant
 

Well Claire isn't in dirt, she's guiding us from the skies !

But do not fear, for she will be back !

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

If Fickle of Fomoria misses a turn at this stage of the game, he probably ought to be set to AI control. This is because he has never posted once here beyond his initial signup notice, and has in fact ceased answering any ingame or private messages at all over the course of the last few turns.

It's far from an ideal solution, but it's not fair to everyone else, and not very classy to 'give up' just because you're in a bad position. This is especially true when victory conditions for the map are only 7 of 15 capitals. Also, low (to no) participation on the forum thread is a real downer for those of us who try quite hard to keep the game entertaining, fast-paced and full of character.

In other words, speak out, put out, and don't puss out!

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

Well, he had pulled at least one trick which I thought he could use currently, so he may be still with us. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif BTW, that's another reason we had to attack Fomors - they are too tricky! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif
I also noted some strange behaviour of the game in our part of the world - some of my armies hadn't move as ordered & probably his didn't, too (I can't know for sure whether he ordered them for the reason you just mentioned). But this is another question completely. Did you try to PM him?
As for advice I consider it a part of cooperation. It's fine to share it, but it IS a behavour of an ally (not one very forthcoming with his help, but still). So I see no qualitative difference between trade, actual subsidies or advice. THe latter is harder to prove, certainly, though... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

There's an enormous difference between giving gems and gold and items, and giving advice. One you can recieve from anyone on the forums. If I had to consider anyone an enemy that gave an opponent advice, well then, there wouldn't be many people left in the community that I could say wasn't an enemy!

Giving someone gems, gold, or magic items, though, to fight another nation, is clearly a hostile move against that nation. Why do you think the United States is so upset with Iran?

For your turns, make sure you're using the Network, and not just Play An Existing Game. If you do, then make sure you go to the network and ensure that the 2h files upload.

Regarding Fomoria, it's really too bad he didn't stay and stick out the game, for a host of reasons. I hope he turns in some faster turns in recompense.

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

Fomoria staled? That sucks. They were the only other guys who could catch up with my huge numbers of chaff, too, at the beginning. They kind of petered out, though.

On a brighter note, I love Mind Lords. Especially against cavalry that are an integral part of an enemy's army. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif As I'm a bit drunk on my recent winnings, I'll repeat my message to C'tis(in English, not roleplayese):

Give me provinces 27 and 18, and the ocean province to the south of those if you have it, and give all provinces to the east of said three provinces to Marverni. Those are the terms of peace.

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

Anyone on the forums and anyone in current game are two different anyones. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif For the person playing in current game has his/her own objectives in it. For example, I gladly gived advice to the person in Strolling game who fought against the one who was to close to ultimate victory at the moment. I wouldn't probably do it if their fight was more equal (but, on the other hand, I sent him gold, too http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif ).
For a number of reasons mostly having to do with a control on world's oil production, if you REALLY want my opinion. But it's, while an interesting question, still the one which requires much space & time, as well as being OT here.. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
Better example would probably be a WW1 America-Germany relations. Then America clearly aided England while remaining officailly non-fighting country (& yes, I know that there were pro-German factions in America also, which was one of the reasons of such behaviour). But if you remember Cold War, than transfer of information/advice was one of major parts of help which Great Powers passed to their satellits.. Unfortunately, there are few abilities to share research results in this game... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif
Thanks, but I'm not that much of a lamer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I've just posted it here to illustrate that there can be a reason for Fickle's strange behaviour. And you didn't answer whether or not you tried to reach him via PM or even e-mail. It would be a simple courtesy if you said all this to him first. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

By the way, if someone betrays a NAP, is it ok to reveal this during game or should I wait after the game is over? I understand that this is not against the rules but I think that players should know which players are trustworthy.

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

Revealing who betrays who can be an integral part of survival. Someone's betrayed you? Make someone (or someones) believe they've won your devotion by helping you defeat an untrustworthy ally. As someone else put it, there are two games in MP--the physical Dominions game, and the diplomacy game. if you lose either, you lose both.

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

Our agreement was that I would give you 266 gold and 3 turns of peace for a province. That was the deal, no more and no less. I thought I'd be nice since I had such overwhelming force and a fast start. Those three turns ended, and I invaded.

I mean, I basically told you when I was going to attack; even more of a windfall for you when I could have just moved in immediately and given you no gold at all.

And with regards to aiding and abetting an enemy being an offensive act or not, well that really depends on the nation who it offends, doesn't it? Because their reaction is very important...

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

Your mindless peoples and those bare skinned ninnies will never have my lands! Never!

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

We've already taken some of them. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

They will be mine once again soon enough... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

Re: Ascendant - EA Game For New Players (Sign Ups
 

Totally tangential but the idea that the middle east controls the world's oil supply is a huge fallacy. North America only imports about 3% of their oil supply each year from the middle east.

That said, is there any way to know where the hell Helmheim's armies are?